The open carry laws, the view on health care, tipping culture ... these are all things I that confuse me about the U.S. these days. Not to mention the politics! But it's still part of me, and there are definitely aspects of the U.S. (and Florida) that I love.
P.S. That burrito joint story happened near Orlando!
I think the big hunting states (Alaska, Montana, Vermont, etc.) top list for gun ownership rates. But I think you’re right that that seems a lot different than the gun culture in parts of the south.
But to be honest I don’t think Florida is really gun crazy, at least not from what I’ve seen. Maybe that’s a reflection on the crowd I hang out with. That’s one reason that experience stuck out to me.
It's amazing, isn't it? If you click the link on that phrase there's an explanation. But I was amazed to find in researching a previous post that there are around 2 million laws of different types in Italy. There are around 160,000 federal laws, compared to around 10,000 in France or Germany. I was sued once for breaking a law written in the Papal States in 1860!
Haha. I'm sure if I were from Oklahoma I'd feel the same mix of attachment and confusion after so many years away. It's so interesting to watch your own culture from far away -- something you know as well as I do.
I also feel split between Italy and Pennsylvania. But I never saw an armed to the teeth GI Joe guy like that. But it really doesn't surprise me that much.
Rome is like that: welcoming but wary.” I have the feeling that applies to Italy in general. P.S. I had a similar conversation with a friend recently, and I ended with, “I’ll always be Italian,” even if I end up spending the majority of my life abroad. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to call myself Californian, or say “we” when talking about what people do/like/eat in California, it’s always “they” for me. And it’s not that I don’t want to be a “we”, it’s just how it feels. But who knows, maybe that will change.
Fellow Floridian (born/raised in Orlando) also living in Rome 🙋🏻♀️ currently back “home” for the holidays and will never get used to open carry.
The open carry laws, the view on health care, tipping culture ... these are all things I that confuse me about the U.S. these days. Not to mention the politics! But it's still part of me, and there are definitely aspects of the U.S. (and Florida) that I love.
P.S. That burrito joint story happened near Orlando!
I lived in Gainesville and Austin for one to two years each. Probably the two most gun happy states.
I think the big hunting states (Alaska, Montana, Vermont, etc.) top list for gun ownership rates. But I think you’re right that that seems a lot different than the gun culture in parts of the south.
But to be honest I don’t think Florida is really gun crazy, at least not from what I’ve seen. Maybe that’s a reflection on the crowd I hang out with. That’s one reason that experience stuck out to me.
Three thousand years of laws 😅
It's amazing, isn't it? If you click the link on that phrase there's an explanation. But I was amazed to find in researching a previous post that there are around 2 million laws of different types in Italy. There are around 160,000 federal laws, compared to around 10,000 in France or Germany. I was sued once for breaking a law written in the Papal States in 1860!
I would love to hear more about the Papal States law that you broke!
It's an open case (since 2018!) so I can't write anything about it in public yet. But rest assured I'll post about it here once there's a ruling.
Deep Thoughts by Eric Lyman..........Probably should be glad you are not comparing Oklahoma to Rome!
Haha. I'm sure if I were from Oklahoma I'd feel the same mix of attachment and confusion after so many years away. It's so interesting to watch your own culture from far away -- something you know as well as I do.
You'll always be a Roman to me.
And to think seeing that kind of thing (the dude with the guns) is normal to alot of people!
I also feel split between Italy and Pennsylvania. But I never saw an armed to the teeth GI Joe guy like that. But it really doesn't surprise me that much.
I'd hazard that there are a lot of people reading here who have each foot in a different culture.
Rome is like that: welcoming but wary.” I have the feeling that applies to Italy in general. P.S. I had a similar conversation with a friend recently, and I ended with, “I’ll always be Italian,” even if I end up spending the majority of my life abroad. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to call myself Californian, or say “we” when talking about what people do/like/eat in California, it’s always “they” for me. And it’s not that I don’t want to be a “we”, it’s just how it feels. But who knows, maybe that will change.
Overall, do you feel more Roman or more Philadelphian?